A TORYGLEN eco group are eager to hear ideas from Rutherglen residents on plans for a nearby woodland space.

Urban Roots, who meet in Toryglen Community Base, recently started a massive clean-up operation to make the Rutherglen side of Malls Mire more accessible to the public.

The space shares a boundary with Toryglen and they had previously held clean-ups on that side.

The site, namely Malls Mire Community Nature Reserve, is a place of importance for nature conservation that is bordered by Toryglen, Rutherglen, housing schemes and a railway line.

It is described as a little piece of beauty and tranquility amongst urban madness and sprawl.

Now community woodland officer with Urban Roots, Tom Cooper, wants to discover what locals would like to see happen with the space by holding two public consultation events - one at Toryglen Community Base and another outside Rutherglen Shopping Centre.

He said: “I’m going to have maps of the woods so people can show me what parts of them they think need work or things they would like to see happen there.

“We’d like to hear of any parts of the woods that people think are nice, or not very nice, areas they think shouldn’t be touched or areas that need work.

“It will also give people a chance to look at our plans and decide what they think of them.”

Tom and Urban Roots are aiming to upgrade the path network in the woodlands.

He will have maps at the consolations to show where will be upgraded and what it will look like. There will also be a small amount of tree felling in certain areas.

As Tom explains, there is some stigma attached to cutting down trees in any area, however he maintains this is essential for the habitat of Malls Mire.

He added: “The consultations are a good chance for people to come and talk to me on why this is necessary.

“When it was planted in ’93 it was planted with way too many trees. To ensure it grows into a healthy woodlands it’s important to thin out the trees.

“They are too tightly packed, and not very steady. High winds could see them blow down.

“It is also important to let light in so that new trees can grow and also for wildlife living on the ground.”

If you’ve got any ideas on how the space should be developed then pop along to one of the consultations.

They will take place on:

l Saturday, February 18, at Toryglen Community Base, in Prospecthill Square, from 11am till 3pm.